Another round of rain, sleet and snow hits before warm up

Wide weather swings are in store for most Iowans over the next few days. Many schools have canceled or delayed class again this morning due to a winter storm that moved in.

Meteorologist Brad Small, at the National Weather Service, says Iowans are seeing a mix of rain, sleet and snow along with deteriorating driving conditions. “It’s a similar story for much of the state, the early morning hours, people saw a mix of freezing rain or sleet that was fairly light, and that quickly changed to all snow, heavy at times,” Small says. “Most people will see one-to-three hours of heavy snow.”

While much of the state is a winter wonderland, with temperatures mostly in the 20s, the forecast calls for a change for many Iowans within a matter of several hours. “By afternoon, we should see temperatures close to the freezing mark in central Iowa, maybe even warmer, highs possibly in the afternoon up to 40 in central Iowa,” Small says. “Even warmer on Tuesday and Wednesday with highs close to 50.”

Snowy street in Des Moines.

That’s the first time many parts of Iowa will be above normal in several weeks. Still, heavy snow is in the immediate forecast as several counties in northeast Iowa are expecting up to seven inches of new-fallen flakes.

“They missed out on the mixed precipitation so their precipitation will all be in the form of snow and it’ll last longer,” Small says. “We’re talking not just one-to-three hours of snow but four to five hours of snow up in northeast Iowa. Winter Storm Warnings (are posted) in northeast Iowa, Winter Weather Advisories elsewhere.”

In the opposite corner of the state, parts of southwest Iowa may see highs this afternoon near 50, a warming trend that should spread to more of the state Tuesday and Wednesday.